Soaring to Success in Four Weeks: Hatch and Prep

Did you know that engaged families effectively add $1,000 per student in a school’s annual budget? At Westlawn, we want to help families be engaged and take advantage of resources that are proven to help students thrive. This is Week 1 in a four-week series designed to help you ensure that your child can be Soaring to Success this year and beyond!

Tip #1: Provide the Necessary Materials to Engage in Learning

• Gather school supplies: There are always sales on school supplies at the start of the year, so stock up while stores try to downsize their inventory in preparation for new merchandise. Families who need support in acquiring school supplies are encouraged to contact the Westlawn Family Liaison,  Ms. Reyes , who can help by sending supplies home with students in need. Also, students at different grade levels need different supplies! In some cases, certain toys might even be considered supplies if they are used in a certain way! For example, students who are learning to write and identify letters can be asked to mold them using Play-Doh.
• Create a supply station: keep frequently-used items like pencils, erasers, and paper in an easily accessible spot. Westlawn students can help by creating a supply organizer out of recycled materials, such as paper tubes and cereal boxes. Alternatively, families can find low-cost or no-cost organizers by browsing  Facebook Marketplace or the Buy Nothing Group that serves the Westlawn neighborhood ( Buy Nothing Falls Church (Southwest), VA ).
• Consider a fidget: a fidget is a device that helps a student who is easily distracted. The student uses the fidget while they work, and the additional sensory input provided by the fidget removes the barrier of distraction from the student. If you notice that your child is easily distracted, adding a helpful fidget to their supply station might help them focus on learning tasks. For more information about fidgets, send a TalkingPoints or an  email to Mrs. Claros , our Special Education Department Chair.
• Provide internet access: if you do not already have internet access at home due to cost, you might be interested in exploring  Fairfax County’s low-cost internet options for qualifying families, for as little as $10 per month. Another option is to borrow a MiFi from Westlawn. A MiFi is a device that allows your child to connect their FCPS device to the internet from your home for free, although the speed isn’t typically as fast as it would be from an internet service provider. Finally, consider taking regular trips to the Thomas Jefferson Library to take advantage of their free internet access.  Learn when the Thomas Jefferson library is open .

Tip #2: Provide Space for Doing Homework

• Designate a quiet, consistent spot: many students benefit fromdoing homework in the same place every day. Homework spaces don’t need to be large! Even the same chair at the kitchen table can make a difference. If noise is distracting your child, consider using noise-cancelling headphones to enhance focus.
• Be open to other places and noise levels: some students (and adults) prefer working in a “coffee shop” environment with constant low background noise. Others prefer working in spaces other than a table with a chair, such as sitting on the floor and using a lap desk. Experiment with your child to see what spaces help them focus the best. The Thomas Jefferson Library is a good place to start, with independent study carrels, tables in busy areas, and group study rooms available for use for free, even without a library card. Your child’s teacher is also a good source of information about how your child best learns during the day, and can provide suggestions for spaces to create or seek out at non-school times.  Facebook Marketplace or the Buy Nothing Group that serves the Westlawn neighborhood ( Buy Nothing Falls Church (Southwest), VA ) can be good sources of free or low-cost furniture and accessories to experiment with as your child’s learning environment needs evolve.
• Ensure good lighting: make sure your child’s homework area is well-lit to prevent eye strain. If your child complains of headaches when using a device, you might also consider getting a pair of blue-light glasses to help prevent eyestrain when using certain types of screens.
• Model good work habits: do some of your own work alongside your child to help reinforce good work habits. You might have work to complete on a laptop, or bills to pay, or even vegetables to chop for dinner. Even if the activity looks different, it provides an opportunity for you to have a conversation with your child about completing tasks, setting goals, and meeting deadlines. It’s also a great way to communicate your views on balancing work and relaxation, and how to make choices to ensure that you have time to do both.
• Keep it organized: set time each week to help your child organize their learning space so any mess does not become a distraction! Older children can take this chore on by themselves, but younger ones will need you to model it as they work to adopt the habit.

Did you like these suggestions? Stay tuned to  The Feather Report and our  Instagram and  Facebook pages to learn more when the next tips drop!